Rating: 
Summary: A ludicrous version of a great classic
Review: Although I have seen this film a long time ago, it will never leave my memory. Cut, pasted, and altered to such that it is quite near unrecognizable, Fahrenheit 451 mixes laughable props with an idiotic script. So bad it's funny, the film follows the book only barely, at best. While the key part is still the fact that the society rejects literature and rational thought, and whole-heartedly embraces screaming TV shows, ultra-high speed driving, and senseless chatting, as all books are burned by "firemen", the overall mood of the setting is no longer the happy-go-lucky idiocy, but a depressed, fearful feel. Granted, much of the book's scenes would be impossible to replicate with the technology of the day, but the numerous flaws are simply unforgivable. From a super-Americanized society of the book, Truffault created a society of Nazis. Most of the actors are blonde and blue-eyed. Especially unforgivable scenes are the flying policemen, the "firemen school", the way they burn books (in a grill), and especially the way one sends in a secret tip to the firemen (through the mail). The ending (and, for that matter, most of the film) is ruinous.
Rating: 
Summary: How can it lack passion?
Review: Fahrenheit, the book, is the ramblings of a young and inexperienced writer. The film on the other hand is a masterpiece. It is in no way lacking any passion, Werner's acting is abundant in this. The film appears bleak because of the reality of such a thing happening. As a society we would be powerless to stop it. The idea of this especially in the form of a film is frightning so we shut it out and dismiss it as being "lame" while we give rave reviews to such trash as "Sream" and "Titanic". Is the latter thought provoking and passionate?
Rating:
Summary: Haunting & Grey
Review: This film by Truffaut still ranks amongst my all time top 10. It's pace and the muted blue and grey color scheme may not be for everyone, but these characteristics are what make it so great. Wonderful acting (especially the unspoken angst of Oskar Werner) and a haunting score. The ending images are simply unforgettable - the warmth and melancholy are akin to climbing inside a Nick Drake song on a grey autumn day.
Rating: 
Summary: A great director's worst movie
Review: As an English teacher I had hoped to introduce one of film's greatest directors to my students after we read Bradbury's novel. Unfortunately it happens to be one of the worst book-to-screen translations ever. The film's biggest weakness is its lack of emotion. Granted, Bradbury's characters live in a society that represses love, but they are still capable of intense passions--Montag especially. The film, by contrast, is muted and dry. The characters never show the fascinating spirit that drives Bradbury's novel. In the film, having them so emotionally barren makes it impossible for us to care about what happens to them. The film is also weak in its lack of special effects--not in terms of eye candy, but to display Bradbury's great verbal visuals. Bradbury shows us houses blazing against the night sky, a robotic dog relentlessly pursuing its prey, and a near-apocalyptic climax that ties together the story's physical and spiritual tensions. Truffaut ignores these things and gives us special effects that would make Ed Wood cringe. One compliment to the movie: the sequence with the woman who martyrs herself for her books is absolutely brilliant. Unfortunately, it only serves to emphasize the movie's other extremely numerous flaws. Skip this version, read Bradbury, and hope for a fiery, more intense version in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: re. title sequence
Review: Although, this film is flawed in many ways I think it compliments the book perfectly (the robot sniffer dog thing in the book is embarrasingly corny). The detatched quality of the direction mirrors the detatchment of this tv obsessed society but even so I can't help feeling that there is real warmth in this film. The sequence of the living books in the snowy forest is genuinely touching. But speaking as someone who is interested in the art of title sequences, I have to say that the opening sequence's absence of moving images and typography is a stroke of genius - extremely direct, unexpected and as good a use of decisions regarding graphic design in the movies as you could get. (another great use of graphics from the same time can be found in Godard's "Weekend")
Rating:
Summary: A picture of indifference
Review: I saw this movie years ago and I felt very impressed; in spite of its defects it is still one of my favorites. Others seem to have disliked the movie's atmosphere, but in my opinion its pared-down and unsentimental style is one of its stronger points: I cannot think of a better description of a society pervaded by anomie. I read the book later and, though I liked the book well enough, I still liked the movie better. Many situations come across more powerfully in the movie than in the book, and the ending (which is quite different from the book) is one of the most beautiful and haunting things I have ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent adaptation of the brilliant novel.
Review: Fahrenheit 451 as a book is quite a good read. This film version, however, does not live up to total expectations. This could also be the reasoning that we expect too many special effects being in the 90s as we are. Still, the performances were good and the film version held close enough to the novel that if you have read the novel you could check out this version for comparison. Then again, you can always wait until the remake comes out with Mel Gibson.
Rating:
Summary: My favourite movie
Review: I really liked this movie. I had read the book long before I saw the movie, and yes, there are significant differences in the plot. But the overall vision is the same. In some ways the movie is better than the book -- for one it seems to me to be more realistic than the book. In contrast to some, I find the pace an asset in this story.
Rating:
Summary: Herrmann is outdoing the Divine
Review: This soundtrack joins the top of the top of Herrmann's masterpieces, music scores like "Vertigo" & "Marnie". Bernard Herrmann composed beautiful music to match with Truffaut's vision of "Fahrenheit 451". This soundtrack consists of various qualities; the dynamic & thrilling "Fire Engine" is followed by "The Bedroom" - one of the most beautiful and divine pieces I've ever heard. This duel of fire & fantasy ends in "The Road" - A new height for perfectness, with "one of those moments" that pierce the heart. Herrmann is simply outdoing the divine.
Rating:
Summary: Great novel, but a corny film
Review: I had to read the novel Fahrenheit 451 and then compare it with its movie as a school assignment. I was very disappointed with the movie, mainly because it did not have the same scenes and characters as the book. I give this movie 1 star because I can't give it any lower. Don't waste your time with this movie but make sure to read the novel.
|
